Improvement in express-messengers  safe



,ed tant atwif time.

.THOMAS DoLAN, or ALBANY, NEW YORK.

' Letters Patent No. 85,647, dated Janna/ry 5, 1869. d

IIVIPRO'VBNIENT IN EXPRESS-MESSENG-.ERS SAFE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS DOLAN, of Albany, in the county of Albany, and in the Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chest for Express-Messengers, and Iron Fire-Proof and Burglar-Proof Safes; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

In the annexed drawings, making part of this specification- A represents a safe, which is cast of iron, or steel, or other suitable metal, and without a top. This safe can be cast plain, or with panels in its sides and bottom, or any other desirable manner.

A groove, d, is cast in three sides of the mouth or top of this safe, leaving the an'ge or bead C above and the ange or shoulder E beneath it.

B represents the top of this safe, which is cast of iron or steel, and in one or more pieces. 'The edges of this top slip in the groove d of the safe.

The' outer edge of the top has a bead, D, upon it, so that when the top is closed, this bead corresponds with. the bead C, its edges and the corners of the safe at the ends of the grooves being mitred, so as'to make a close `joint.

' A lock is tted on the front side of the safe, on its inside, and the top, B, is provided with Va recess near lits front edge to receive the bolt of the lock.

e represents lugs, which are cast upon the ends of the safe, and which have holes through them, and ears upon their upper sides.

Gr represents the safe-handles. These handles have their ends'bent and sprung into the holes in the lugs e. The handles are prevented from rising higher than a horizontal, or a. position at right angles to the safe, by the" ears upon the lugs.

Agreat saving is effected over the ordinary safe, by this mode of construction.

By this arrangement for a sliding door, I do away with the bolts, and hinges, and screws, and Wheels, necessary with the old door, and thus save a great deal of expense.

This safe can be made cheaper,while it is stronger and lighter than the old safe.

This safe possesses many advantages over the old safes.

It will be seen that no hinges are used, and that, by means of the sliding plate, when opened, the door is not so much in the way as it Would'otherwise be.

It is more secure, and less liable to be broken into by burglarsas it is more difficult for a chisel or other instrument to be inserted to pryv open the lid.

I am fully aware that boxes have been heretofore known with sliding'lids; but a safe constructed as I `have set forth above, and with the lid thereof sliding in grooves, instead of being hinged, is more economical and secure than others known to me.

Having thusfully described my invention,

v1. The within-'described safe, cast of steel or iron, with a groove around its mouth, and having a sliding door, as represented, the safe and door being constructed, and connected, and used, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The lugs e upon the ends of the safe, and the handles G secured to them, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto setmy hand and seal, this 22d day of October, 1867.

THOMAS DOLAN. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

J osEPH W. RUSSELL, STEPHEN G. NORTHROP. 

